Passengers who use Heathrow are being put at risk because air
traffic controllers are having to cut corners, a whistleblower
claimed last night.
They come under such pressure to keep planes moving that
aircraft are put on collision courses, he said.
In one case a BMI jet landing at Heathrow allegedly came within
20 seconds of hitting one from Air France.
A
whistleblower says air traffic controllers 'cut corners' to ensure
planes are kept moving at Heathrow
The BMI service was due to land first but the Air France was
given permission to turn into the runway instead.
The whistleblower said the planes were only a few hundred feet
apart when evasive action was taken.
Heathrow handles 240,000 landings a year and 62million
passengers and is at 98 per cent capacity.
The former controller, who retired through ill health in
February, spent most of his 27 years' service there.
One of his final duties was to compile a report into potential
safety breaches last year.
Last night he leaked the 33-page dossier, which detailed 12
incidents, to the BBC.
The report said: "A premium on optimum air traffic control
performance ... has encouraged controllers to implement
inappropriate plans of action and continue with them after it has
become clear they cannot be satisfactorily executed".
The whistleblower later told the BBC: "In some areas we are
throwing away some of the safeguards because it is the easiest way
of moving the aeroplanes. I believe you call that cutting
corners."
National Air Traffic Services confirmed the whistleblower's
report was commissioned by them and admitted some controllers have
been given extra training and advice.
But it dismissed his concerns as "his opinion".
In a statement, Nats said it had identified 16 incidents where
the standard distance between planes had not been maintained.
There has been only one incident so far this year.
The company said safety was its first priority and was taking
steps to improve performance.
Source: Daily Mail UK, Mar. 20, 2008